Hikers' Mushroom Trip Spurs False Death Report

Two hikers on Cascade Mountain in New York's Adirondacks triggered an emergency response after calling 911 to report a friend's death, but authorities found the pair lost and hallucinating from psilocybin mushrooms. A forest ranger and summit steward assisted the hikers, quickly determining that the distress call was due to a drug-induced 'bad trip.' The supposedly deceased third hiker later contacted authorities himself, confirming he was alive and uninjured, and was soon reunited with the group. Emergency responders escorted the two affected hikers to a waiting ambulance and police, while the third hiker returned safely to the campsite. No charges or citations were issued in connection with the incident. Officials stated that the hikers’ drug use, rather than the mountain's difficulty, was the primary cause of danger in this case.